Curling broom head and removable handle attachment

ABSTRACT

The curling broom head is composed of a fabric section, flexible section, lower body, upper body, and a stem or stem assembly that is used to attach the broom head to the broom handle. The fabric section is a stand-alone piece of fabric that can easily be removed and replaced by the user. The fabric section is wrapped around the flexible section and lower body and is secured into place and ready for game play when the lower body is attached to the upper body. At any time, the curling fabric may be easily replaced by separating the upper and lower bodies, removing the old fabric from the lower body and replacing it with new fabric. 
     The curling broom handle is an elongated member that is attached to the broom head on one end. A removable device(s) is attached or secured to the broom handle at a desired height and provide an easier profile to grip and/or extra surface area to exert downward force. A removable device is attached or secured to the end of the broom handle to provide an increased surface area to exert downward force on the broom handle.

BACKGROUND

Curling brooms are used in the sport of curling to slightly alter the trajectory of a curling stone to the benefit of the team/player that is sweeping. Modern curling brooms are generally composed of two main parts: a handle and a head. Most curling broom heads have a fabric layer that contacts the ice surface, a flexible layer above the fabric, a rigid section(s) above the flexible layer and a stem that attaches to the rigid section(s) to the broom handle. The handle is generally tubular in shape and is gripped by the curler to move the broom in a side to side motion on the ice, in front of the path of the curling stone.

The sweeping action can have different levels of effectiveness depending on the downward force that is applied to the broom head, the velocity of the broom head, and the type and condition of fabric. Each player has a different sweeping force and velocity that stays fairly constant from game to game, so those two factors stay generally constant. The broom head, however, will diminish in effectiveness the more it is used. This is due to several factors including fraying, coating wear and dirt buildup. In order to maintain maximum sweeping effectiveness, it is ideal to replace the fabric section of the broom head as often as possible.

The majority of broom heads are assembled in such a way that when the fabric section is worn, the flexible layer and rigid section must also be discarded and replaced, because the fabric section is permanently secured to the rigid section by staples, with the flexible layer sandwiched in between. This method of assembly causes a very high amount of unnecessary waste, because the rigid section and flexible layer could be reused if the fabric wasn't stapled to the rigid section. There are other types of broom heads where only the fabric layer can be replaced when worn, however those broom heads have fabric layers with secondary production processes associated with them, such as stitching two or more fabric sections together or adding parts to the fabric to allow fastening to the rest of the broom head. These processes add cost to the broom head, which is passed on to the curler every time the broom head fabric needs replacement. A broom head that has a removable fabric section with a very minimal secondary production process, will have a lower replacement cost, and cause less unnecessary waste.

The sweeping technique varies greatly from one curler to another, and each player differs in size, strength and sweeping ability. Generally, the more downward force a curler can apply to the broom, the more effective they will be at sweeping. Although most curling brooms handles have approximately the same shape, some handles are manufactured with key design features to enable the curler to apply more downward force. Common design features include a material on the outside surface of the broom handle that is somewhat sticky, making it easier for the curler to grip the broom and apply more force. Although the intent of the grip material is to provide better sweeping effectiveness, depending on the sweeping technique of the curler, the sticky surface may impede their efforts by creating extra friction on their clothing or skin. Because the grip material is permanently affixed to the broom handle, those people that don't want the feature, must choose a different broom handle that doesn't have it, sometimes also giving up other benefits such as lighter broom handle weight. As such, a need exists for removable broom handle attachments that, when attached to the broom handle, allow the curler to exert more downward force on the broom head.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the curling broom comprises a broom handle and broom head. The broom handle is gripped by the curler during the sweeping motion and is attached to the broom head at one end. The broom head is composed of an upper body, lower body, a flexible section, and a fabric section. A rigid stem or pivoting stem assembly is attached the broom head for connection to the broom handle. When assembled, the fabric section is located at the bottom of the broom head and is in contact with the ice surface during the sweeping action. The broom head is assembled by placing the flexible section between the fabric and lower body and wrapping the fabric around the other two sections, partially securing the fabric to the lower body, then securing the lower body to the upper body, making the fabric section securely attached to the broom head. The fabric section remains secured to the broom head until the upper and lower bodies are separated.

In another aspect, the curling broom comprises a broom handle and broom head. The broom handle is gripped by the curler during the sweeping motion and is attached to the broom head at one end. A removable grip device is attached or secured to the outside of the broom handle at the desired distance from the broom head, to allow the curler to more easily apply downward force to the broom handle and broom head. A removable broom handle end is attached or secured to the end of the broom handle, opposite the broom head, where the broom handle end has a significantly increased surface area as compared to the cross-sectional area of the broom handle, allowing the curler to more comfortably exert a downward force on the broom handle end by having the force spread out over a larger surface area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a curling broom head assembly attached to a broom handle

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a broom head assembly

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the bottom assembly of a curling broom head

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stacked order of the bottom assembly parts, before assembly

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled bottom assembly, before attachment to the upper body

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of an assembled broom head assembly

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a removable broom handle attachment that attaches to the end of the curling broom

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a removable broom handle attachment that attaches along the length of the curling broom

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a curling broom with 2 embodiments of removable broom handle attachments attached to the handle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the lower portion of a complete curling broom 100 that includes a broom handle 101 and a broom head assembly 102. The broom head assembly 102 is attached to the broom handle 101 at one end of the broom handle 101. FIG. 2 shows a broom head assembly 102 that includes an upper body 103, bottom assembly 104 and stem section 105. The stem section 105 is attached to the broom handle 101 when the curling broom 100 is properly assembled. During the sweeping motion, the bottom of the bottom assembly 104 is in contact with the curling ice 106 with the upper body 103 of the broom head 102 orientated above the bottom assembly 104 and the broom handle 101 orientated above the broom head assembly 102. As used herein, direction and/or orientation terms such as lower, upper, bottom and top refer to the upright orientation of the broom handle 101 and broom head assembly 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 3, the bottom assembly 104 consists of a fabric section 107, a flexible section 108 and lower body 109. In this embodiment, the lower body 109 contains pins 110 that are used to mate with the holes 111 in the fabric section 107 when the bottom assembly 104 is assembled. The lower body 109 also contains a wall 112 around the perimeter to tighten the fabric section 107 and secure it to the pins 110 during assembly of the broom head assembly 102. With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, during assembly of the bottom assembly 104, the flexible layer 108 is placed between the fabric section 107 and lower body 109 and the fabric section 107 is wrapped around the flexible section 108 and lower body 109 and the holes 111 in the fabric section 107 are placed over the corresponding pins 110 on the top of the lower body 109. While the illustrated embodiment uses pins 110 and holes 111 to secure the fabric section 107 to the lower body 109, other means, such as hook and loop material, tape or any other suitable method, may be used without departing from the scope of this invention.

Still referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the fabric section 107 is secured into place during the assembly of the broom head assembly 102 when the lower body 109 is secured to the upper body 103. Fastening features 113 are located on the lower body 109 to secure it to the fastening features 114 of the upper body 103 when the broom head assembly 102 is assembled. It is understood that any other type of fastening feature can be used to secure the bottom assembly 104 to the upper body 103, such as bolts, pins, or any other suitable means, without departing from the scope of this invention.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of the assembled broom head assembly 102. When the lower body 109 is secured to the upper body 103, the fabric section 107 is pushed to the bases of the pins 110 of the lower body 109, causing the fabric section 107 to tighten and form around the wall 112 of the lower body 109 and compress the flexible section 108. The fabric section 107 cannot be removed from the broom head assembly 102 until the lower body 109 is separated from the upper body 103.

FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a removable curling broom handle attachment 115 that attaches to the end of the broom handle 101. The broom handle 101 has an end cap 117 that is secured to the end of the broom handle 101. The bottom surface of the curling broom attachment 115 has a profile 120 that allows the broom handle attachment 115 to fit around the end cap 117 and secure to the broom handle 101. The broom handle 101 has a cross-sectional dimension 118, and the end cap 117 has a cross-sectional dimension 119. The maximum cross-sectional dimension 116, of the curling broom attachment 115, in the plane parallel to dimensions 118 and 119, is at least twice the size of dimensions 118 and 119 to allow the curler to more comfortably apply force to the top of the broom handle attachment 115 during the sweeping motion. Although this embodiment shows an end cap 117 on the broom handle 101, it is understood that a curling broom attachment 115 can be secured to a broom handle 101 that does not have an end cap 117, without departing from the scope of this invention. Similarly, while this embodiment shows one method of securing the removable curling broom attachment 115 to the curling broom 101, it is understood that other means of securing the curling broom attachment 115 to the curling broom 101 may be used without departing from the scope of this invention.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a removable curling broom handle attachment 121 that can be secured to any area along the length of the broom handle 101. The broom handle attachment 121 has an inside wall 122 that has the same shape as, or is flexible and can take the shape of the broom handle 101. The inside wall 122 has surface properties that allow it to grip the broom handle 101 and not slip when downward pressure is applied to the broom handle attachment 121. The outside of the broom handle attachment 121 has a surface 123 for the palm of the hand and a surface 124 that allows the curler to more easily apply downward force on the broom handle. Although in this embodiment, the broom handle attachment is one piece that slides onto the broom handle, it is understood that other designs, profiles or constructions may be used, such as a 2-piece design that clamps onto the broom handle 101, without departing from the scope of this invention.

FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of a curling broom that is composed of a broom handle 101, with a broom head assembly 102 at one end, an embodiment of a removable broom handle attachment 115 at the other end, and another embodiment of a removable broom handle attachment 121 secured on a section along the length of the broom handle 101. 

1. A curling broom head with a top section and a removable pad assembly containing a rigid section, a compressible pad section and a fabric section, where: the fabric section is essentially flat, and is not pre-shaped to the profile of the assembled pad assembly the pad assembly is assembled by placing the compressible pad section between the rigid section and fabric section, wrapping the fabric section around the compressible pad section and at least a portion of the rigid section, and partially securing the fabric section to the rigid section the fabric section is secured to the pad assembly and broom head when the assembled pad assembly is secured to the top section of the broom head the fabric section cannot be removed from the correctly assembled broom head unless the pad assembly is separated from the top section.
 2. The curling broom head set forth in claim 1 where the rigid section has vertical pins on the top surface and the fabric section has matching holes, where when the pad assembly is assembled, the holes of the fabric section are mated with the pins of the rigid section.
 3. The curling broom head set forth in claim 1 where the rigid section has a hook and loop material on the top surface and the fabric section has matching hook and loop material, where when the pad assembly is assembled, the hook and loop material of the fabric section is mated with the hook and loop material of the rigid section.
 4. The curling broom head set forth in claim 1 where the rigid section has a clamping mechanism(s) on the top surface, where when the pad assembly is assembled, the fabric section is secured to the rigid section with the clamping mechanism(s).
 5. The curling broom head set forth in claim 1 where the rigid section of the pad assembly is secured to the top section of the broom head with mating or interlocking design features on both components.
 6. The curling broom head set forth in claim 1 where the rigid section of the pad assembly is secured to the top section of the broom head with a screw or bolt type fastener.
 7. A replaceable fabric section for a curling broom head with a top section and a removable pad assembly that includes the fabric section, where: the fabric section is essentially flat, and is not pre-shaped to the profile of the assembled pad assembly the pad assembly is assembled by wrapping the fabric section around at least a portion of the other pad assembly components the fabric section is secured to the pad assembly and broom head when the assembled pad assembly is secured to the top section of the broom head the fabric section cannot be removed from the correctly assembled broom head unless the pad assembly is separated from the top section.
 8. The replaceable fabric section set forth in claim 7 where the fabric section has holes punched near the outer perimeter, where when pad assembly is assembled, the holes of the fabric section are used to secure the fabric section to the pad assembly.
 9. The replaceable fabric section set forth in claim 7 where the fabric section has hook and loop material attached near the outer perimeter, where when pad assembly is assembled, the hook and loop material of the fabric section is used to secure the fabric section to the pad assembly.
 10. A removable curling broom handle attachment that can be secured to a curling broom handle and aid in the ability of the curler to grip or apply force to the handle.
 11. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 10 where the attachment slides on to the broom handle from the end and can be positioned at a location along the length of the broom handle.
 12. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 11 where the attachment is made of a flexible, non-slip material that forms to and grips the surface of the broom handle.
 13. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 10 where the attachment has a hinge feature where the attachment can be clamped around the broom handle along the length of the handle.
 14. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 10 where the attachment consists of two or more parts that can be assembled around and secured to a section along the length of the broom handle.
 15. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 10 where the attachment secures to the end of the broom handle.
 16. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 15 where the attachment slides over the end of the broom handle, with the broom handle end fitting inside the mating feature of the attachment.
 17. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 15 where a portion of the attachment slides into the end of the broom handle, with the mating feature of the attachment fitting inside the broom handle end.
 18. The broom handle attachment set forth in claim 15 where the attachment consists of two or more parts that can be assembled around and secured to the end of the curling broom handle. 